Patient Safety in Diabetes Care and Intensive Glycemic Therapy
2008-09-04 10:38:20
Submitted by: Richard Hellman, MD, FACP, FACE
In June 2008, the results of both the ADVANCE and ACCORD studies became public. The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) on June 12, 2008, presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) meeting, and widely discussed i Read More

Depression and Diabetes and Patient Safety
2008-09-02 16:42:38
Submitted by: Richard Hellman, MD, FACP, FACE
I have just left an examination room where my patient, a 72-year-old woman with diabetes, tearfully admitted that her sense of hopelessness and anguish, centered on the loss of her husband, kept her from doing what her distraught daughter begged her to do Read More

Editorial on Byetta (exenatide) and Patient Safety
2008-08-25 16:22:21
Submitted by: Richard Hellman, MD, FACP, FACE
The recent FDA alert regarding Byetta1 (exenatide) should be noted with concern. The mortality rates of severe acute pancreatitis in published reports is variable, but is usually reported to be over 10%. Read More

Insulin Pens and Safety
2008-08-04 16:19:36
Submitted by: Richard Hellman, MD, FACP, FACE
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) released an article recently that highlighted potential safety problems that are being seen in hospitals when they switch the delivery of insulin subcutaneously from insulin that is drawn from multiple-dos Read More

The Veterans Administration Diabetes Trial (VADT) and Lessons for Patient Safety
2008-07-14 14:47:06
Submitted by: Richard Hellman, MD, FACP, FACE
Three important trials were presented last month at the American Diabetes Association’s 68th Scientific Sessions. Read More

A First Step Toward Improving Drug Surveillance – The Sentinel Initiative
2008-05-24 15:47:15
Submitted by: Richard Hellman, MD, FACP, FACE
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA), in conjunction with the Department of Health & Human Service (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has just launched an effort, the Sentinel Initiative, to develop a post-market drug and device Read More

Welcome Editorial for the Patient Safety Exchange, May 8, 2008
2008-05-24 15:46:19
Submitted by: Richard Hellman, MD, FACP, FACE
Welcome to the AACE Patient Safety Exchange. This website represents our efforts to introduce you to the growing knowledge of the complexity of health care systems and the difficulty attaining and maintaining safer and higher quality care. Read More

Quick Takes
Bag of Meds
A seventyish female called EMS to her house due to a fall and can't move situation. The EMS arrived, brought her to the hospital and in doing so gathered up all prescription bottles in a plastic bag. We refer to this as the Bag'O Meds. Read More